UNDP in Georgia

6 Develop a global partnership for development

Where we are?

Georgian and Romanian youth at the international festival in Borjomi. June 2011. Photo: David Khizanishvili/UNDP

Georgia has a rather liberal trade regime. The country’s legislation does not apply any quantitative restrictions, restrictions of licensing requirements or other nontariff barriers.

After joining the WTO in June 2000, Georgia started to harmonize its customs regimes with the commitments negotiated with the WTO. Georgia’s joining the WTO resulted in the abolishment of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment by the USA and, furthermore, granted the country Most Favoured Nation status. Later, the country was granted the General System of Preferences (GSP) beneficiary status.
The European Union lifted the status of non-market economy country for Georgia thus cancelling certain trade restrictions previously hindering the country. Furthermore, the EU expanded the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) beneficiary status of Georgia, granted in 1995 to GSP+ that entitles 7,200 types of products with Georgian origin to enter the European Union market with zero customs tariff. The negotiations are underway to reintroduce Georgian products (including wine and mineral water) on the Russian market.